Why Kate Middleton’s Way Of Wearing A Sash Differs From Queen's

Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker Bowles usually wear their sashes in a similar direction, unlike Queen Elizabeth II.

On the online forum site Quora, royal fans shared their thoughts on the significance of the direction in which the Royals’ sashes are worn. Margaret Shannon, a self-confessed empress of libraries, said that the direction of the sash worn by Middleton, Camilla, and the Queen is determined by the order it represents.

“Most order sashes are worn right shoulder to left hip. The sash of the Order of the Garter is worn left shoulder to right hip… It’s just the way it’s done,” she said.

Marian Clarke said that she noticed that Princess Royal also wore her sash at this week’s state banquet in the same direction as Her Majesty.

“I thought it might be something to do with being Princesses of the blood royal, but Princess Alexandra wore hers the same as the others, so it’s not that… I do hope somebody knows,” she said.

Also on the online forum site, royal fans explained the differences between the sash of the three female royals. Alison Hill, a resident of the United Kingdom, said that the Duchess of Cambridge’s sash is the riband of the Royal Victorian Order.

The Queen’s sash, on the other hand, is the riband of the Order of the Garter. The Order of the Garter is much higher than the Royal Victorian Order, and this is the reason why Her Majesty is the one that wore it.

Chris Smith said that Camilla and Sophie, Countess of Wessex also wore the sash of the Royal Victorian Order because this is the highest honor that they have received thus far. The Queen, Princess Anne, and Princess Alexandra have donned the sash of the Noble Order of the Garter because this is the highest honor that they have received.

While at the state banquet, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Prince William all wore the sash of the Knights of the Order of the Garter.